John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appeal to the Government to look at that issue. I add my voice to those highlighting the issue of foster care payments. Those families providing foster care need to be supported much more. It is vitally important that they be given the recognition they deserve, which they have not got down through the years. An awful lot of them are struggling and putting their own resources into caring for those they are fostering. If the State has a responsibility in that area, it should be reflected in the payments we make. Until we do that, we are not acknowledging these families' input into the care of others. It is often the case that the HSE or Tusla will allow them to continue to provide that care because it takes the burden off them.

On the HSE itself, a staggering amount of people, young and old, are on waiting lists for all sorts of operations all over the country. I particularly refer to those trying to access mental health services. It is simply wrong that we do not target all of these services and insist that money is spent directly on the patient. No commercial organisation in the world would fund the health service in the way governments have funded it in the past. The budget is some €22 billion-odd yet we read in the Daily Mailor in other newspapers, or hear through other media such as radio or television, of the extraordinary waste that goes on. As a public representative, it is very difficult to explain that to a family waiting for a serious operation or procedure or for supports to be paid. It is not efficient and does not provide value for money. Morale within those services is at an all-time low and I would say the same about the Garda and the Defence Forces.

While it is true we need more gardaí and more people in the Defence Forces, we need to create jobs within those entities that pay well. We need to acknowledge the input of all individuals on the front line of these services and to ensure their pensions are worthwhile. We need to stop paying lip service to their concerns because that is what has been going on, government after government. We have seen the numbers getting involved in those organisations roll downwards. The jobs are simply not attractive. It is not attractive to work in the HSE, where everything is piled on you because you are the last one in line. Our people in the Garda and the Defence Forces are not looked after well but yet, when it gets cold outside and there is a bit of frost on the ground, it is the Defence Forces that are called in. That is not right. We need more investment in what we have. I do not know where the Government is going to get the numbers we are talking about, 1,000 extra for the Garda or 1,000 for the Defence Forces. There is no one out there to employ. We need to look at the market and be realistic.

I appeal to every Minister. They have a good sack of taxpayers' money. There is plenty to be done in their Departments. There is loads of stuff to be sorted out. As politicians, we are elected to give leadership to the bureaucracy, the Civil Service. It is about time that the Ministers did so.

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